GE15: with polls fast approaching, where will Hasni be running?

KUALA LUMPUR – Johor Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad is facing a stumbling block at the eleventh hour on which parliamentary seat he is likely to run for in the 15th general election (GE15).

During the past months, he was touted to contest in the Pontian seat, but it is clear that incumbent and Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan would not make way.

This is despite Hasni being the Pontian Umno chief and being a local boy.

He is also said to have strong grassroots support in the constituency, seeing that he won the seat in 2004.

According to party sources, Hasni is now considering facing off PKR’s Maszlee Malik in Simpang Renggam. The former Johor menteri besar could even try for Tg Piai, but that means BN component MCA’s Datuk Seri Wee Jeck Seng has to give up defending the seat.

While exact reasons on why Ahmad refused to vacate the seat remain speculation at this point, a party insider familiar with Johor seat negotiations told The Vibes that it was because the three-term MP would not fare well in other seats.

“While Ahmad has a strong following online, it is a different story on the ground in Johor. He is well-liked in Pontian, but his support locally likely stops there.

“There are already questions raised if he would be given full support by party members if Ahmad were to contest elsewhere in Johor. This was the situation months back when informal seat negotiations were taking place in Umno,” said the source.

While Hasni, who is also Johor Umno chief, has the authority to decide on the candidates, another party insider said he will not lash out for political expediency.

“That’s not his style. But deliberations are still ongoing on where he will contest,” said the source.

Previously, an idea was mooted for Hasni to swap seats with Wee, with the latter contesting in Simpang Renggam.

Yesterday, Hasni reportedly said that Umno would contest Simpang Renggam, while eight seats would be given to MCA to contest and one for MIC.

Simpang Renggam was previously contested by Gerakan, but the party has since left BN to join Perikatan Nasional.

Tg Piai was won by Wee in the 2019 by-election, which was triggered by the death of then incumbent Mohamed Farid Md Rafik of Bersatu.

Wee had won with a 15,086-vote majority, with many political observers saying the win was due to protest votes against the Pakatan Harapan administration then. – The Vibes, October 30, 2022